NEWS . . .

Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, developed an interest in the Navy early in life and as a student at Harvard in 1882 wrote "The Naval War of 1812" establishing his credentials as a serious historian. Among his many roles in serving his country, he became Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1897 and was instrumental in preparing the Navy for the Spanish-American War. It was in 1902 that President Roosevelt established the Navy League of the United States.

In his honor, the Atlanta Metropolitan Council Navy League of the United States will be awarding a deserving cadet from each of our units the Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medal that is awarded to outstanding Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) cadets and Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC). The award consists of a medal, ribbon bar, certificate, and pamphlet on President Theodore Roosevelt whose visage is on the medal.

The Atlanta Metropolitan Council of the Navy League of the United States supports 9 sea cadet units and 45 Navy & Marine Corps JROTC units. Theodore Roosevelt Youth Award winners qualify for consideration to compete for the "Cadet of the Year" among all of our supported units. Last year, the Atlanta Metro Council was pleased to award over $5,000 in checks to deserving cadets: 1st Place $1,500, Runner-up $750, and Honorable Mention $250.

Our guest speaker at the banquet will be CAPT Mark Pimpo, Business Consultant for Chick-fil-A Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia and attended the United States Naval Academy.

This year the Youth Awards Banquet is May 10, 2018 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Smyrna, GA. Social at 6:30 pm, dinner at 7:00 pm.

Hope you can join us for the 25th Annual Youth Awards Banquet celebrating our top cadets from Naval Sea Cadet Corps and Navy/Marine Corps JROTC units.

For more information, contact William Wilkerson at william.wilkerson1@att.net.

The Lance Corporal Skip Wells Foundation was created after the shooting tragedy in Chattanooga - on July 16, 2015, an Islamic terrorist went on a shooting rampage that took the lives of 4 Marines and a Navy Sailor.

Skip was the youngest Marine at only 21 years of age.

Skip graduated from Sprayberry High School where he was active in both the Band of Gold and the NJROTC. On April 29th, 2018, he would be 24 years old.

His mom wants his memory to LIVE on, not only for his heroic death but for the fun life he led. Skip was a young man who loved his country, his family, and his friends. He is dearly missed by all.

This year's SEMPER FLve K road race will celebrate Skip's birthday. If you liked last year, you are going to LOVE this year's race.

When: Saturday, 28 April 2018 @ 8:00 am Where: Kennesaw State University - Race day location is at the "Perch",in front of the Kennesaw greenway.

All SEMPER FIve K donations, registrations, and sponsorships will go to the scholarships offered by the Lance Corporal Skip Wells Foundation.

These scholarships will help students go to college or tech school to further their education.

On October 4, 2017, CAPT Ted Daywalt, USNR-Ret, passed away at Shands Hospital in the University of Florida Health Complex.

In addition to his career in the Naval Reserve, since 1999, Ted has been the president and CEO of VetJobs, the leading military jobs board on the Internet.

He served on active duty in the Navy for seven years. He initially served as a Line Officer on a destroyer with cruises to South America, Europe and Russia. He was then assigned to the Commander United States Naval Forces, European headquarters in London, England, as an intelligence watch officer and later as a geopolitical analyst with responsibilities for the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa.

In 1978, he transferred to the Naval Reserve Intelligence Program, from which he retired as a Captain (O-6) with 28 years of service. He was a stalwart NIP member.

CAPT Ed Pope, whose release from unjust imprisonment in Moscow was another of Ted’s causes, passed the following:

“Those of us who had the privilege of meeting and getting to know Ted will miss him. He was a wonderful man, strong believer in God, family and country to the very end.”

Ed included a note from the Daywalt family:

"This morning at 11:15 a.m., Ted's valiant fight against Interstitial Pulmonary Lung Disease ended. Ted was surrounded by his grateful family and many members of the Shands Hospital staff. He peacefully crossed the Bar and was greeted by Our Heavenly Father's words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

His determination to survive his double lung transplant this past January is a testament to Ted's courage and positive spirit."

"We want to commend the entire wonderful and amazing medical community of Shands Hospital. They were committed to his daily progress and share our loss. The staff got to know Ted and loved, respected and admired his determination as he battled this terrible disease."

"The care and love of the Shands staff gave Ted and our family 10 more months that we would not have had and for this we will always be grateful."

"Thank you for your visits, your prayers and the many expression of love that you all have showed to Ted on this journey."

"Ted's priorities in life were: God, his family and his country, in that order, and we will honor his memory by continuing his legacy."

"Belinda, Melissa, Andrew and Liz"

Memorial and interment plans are incomplete at this time. We will ensure Ted's many friends and shipmates will be notified when finalized.

Attend a show and you’ll not only hear the roar of the Blue Angels in the air you will feel the excitement of the people around you. It is an unforgettable event whether it’s your first time or 10th!

The Blue Angels’ mission is “To showcase the pride and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and community outreach.”

In it’s 71st year, the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron - aka Blue Angels - will be flying over Rome, GA October 21-22, 2017. It’s a flyover, no landing, but details on where to view the show will follow closer to the event.

On the team this year is #6 Blue Angel Tyler Davies. Davies, a native of Kennesaw GA, graduated from North Cobb HS and their NJROTC unit in 2000. CDR Frank Campbell (a past council member and president) was his Senior Naval Science Instructor.

Davies enlisted in the Navy before attending the University of LaVerne in Riverside, CA. He served as an instructor pilot at Naval Air Station Oceana Virginia. Davies was the Blue Angel team’s narrator during the 2016 show season.

Representatives of the NLUS Atlanta Metropolitan Council met with Georgia Senator David Perdue's Staff at his Atlanta Office, September 5, 2017, to provide a Navy League Legislative Affairs brief on " A CriticalEconomic & National Security Asset: U.S.-Flag Merchant Marine." Depicted are (L-R) ATLAN Council VP Legislative Affairs Don Giles, State Policy Director Martha Zoller, State Director Joyce White, State Special Projects Director Sarah Baska, Former Atlanta Council President Lamar Cheatham, and Atlanta Council President Harley Jones.

Your Atlanta Metropolitan Council members, Martha White and Jeff Alexander, gave the Navy League brief on the Needs for the U.S. Navy to United States Congressman Rob Woodall, (GA 7th district) on August 21, 2017. Congressman Woodall is a great supporter of the Navy League and always ready with numerous questions for us following our briefings.

Did you know that more Naval Academy appointments come from the 7th district than any other district in Georgia?

Council VP Legislative Affairs Don Giles addressed the Jonquil City Kiwanis Club, August 15, 2017. The subject was “Keeping Sea Lanes Open: the Importance of Sea Power to our Economy and our National Defense.” Three other council members also attended. Depicted (L-R) Council President Harley Jones, Council member Bill Wilkerson, Don Giles, Kiwanis Club President Len Freedman, and Council Director Axel Spens.

Atlanta Metropolitan Council NLUS

Atlanta Metropolitan Council, The Navy League of the United States was organized as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation in 1946. As a civilian group in support of the sea services, we try to make a difference in matters important to our National Defense.